SB179: SB179 Education; the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days; require

This bill changes several parts of Georgia's K-12 education law. Beginning with students graduating in 2037 or later (tied to the 2031-2032 school year), every local school system must require a computer science course, or a career and technical course that includes computer science, as a condition of graduation. That course can substitute for one credit in math, science, CTAE, foreign language, fine arts, or an elective, under specific limits, without adding to the total credits needed to graduate. The bill also raises the maximum tuition a local school system can charge per student per semester course through the Georgia Virtual School from $250 to $350. It creates a new requirement that local school systems let representatives of "patriotic societies" (youth civic groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) speak with students during school hours, following a notice and approval process with the local superintendent. Finally, it updates the legal definition of private school so that fully virtual private schools count as private schools even if they do not meet standard in-person instructional time requirements.

• Requires all local school systems to make computer science a high school graduation requirement beginning with the 2031-2032 school year for students graduating in 2037 or later.
• Allows a qualifying computer science or CTAE-embedded computer science course to substitute for one credit in subjects like math, science, foreign language, fine arts, CTAE, or electives, within set limits.
• Raises the cap on Georgia Virtual School tuition local school systems can charge per student per semester course from $250.00 to $350.00 (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-319.1).
• Creates a new requirement (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.10) that local school systems allow patriotic youth organizations, like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to speak with students during school hours, subject to a notice and approval process.
• Requires local school superintendents to approve or deny a patriotic society's visit request within seven days and to explain any denial in writing.
• Revises the definition of "private school" (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690) to include fully online private schools even if they don't meet the standard 180-day, 4.5-hour instructional day rule.

Public high school and middle school students and their families, local school boards and superintendents, the Department of Education and State Board of Education, students enrolled in the Georgia Virtual School, patriotic youth organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and fully online private schools in Georgia.

Future high school students would need a computer science credit to graduate, though it can double as credit in another subject. Families using Georgia Virtual School would pay up to $100 more per course, and schools would need clear procedures to let civic youth groups meet with students during the school day.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.3 to phase in a computer science graduation requirement starting with the 2031-2032 school year for students graduating in 2037 or later, and details which courses can substitute for other credit requirements.
• Section 1 also updates legislative findings on the shortage of computer science graduates and the demand for computer science jobs in Georgia.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-319.1 to raise the maximum Georgia Virtual School tuition a local school system can charge per student per semester course from $250.00 to $350.00.
• Section 3 adds new Code Section 20-2-324.10, requiring local school systems to let 'patriotic societies' speak with students during school hours, with a 30-day advance notice requirement and a seven-day response deadline for superintendents.
• Section 3 also states that if any part of this new Code section is ruled invalid by a court, the entire section is automatically repealed.
• Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 so that fully virtual private schools qualify as private schools even without meeting the standard 180-day, 4.5-hour school day requirement.
• Section 5 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-12Act 625
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-23House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-09Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
7. 2025-04-04House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
8. 2025-04-04House Third Readers (House)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   54 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #165

2. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #430

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 9, 2026

   48 yea, 3 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute As Amended: Senate Vote #693

4. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   99 yea, 66 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Agree To Senate Amendment To House Sub: House Vote #741

• computer science education
• high school graduation requirements
• Georgia Virtual School
• school access for youth organizations
• private school regulations